Nigeria has nominated Dr. Olufemi Elias to be elected judge of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) from 2027 to 2036.
The ICJ, one of the United Nations’ principal organs, settles disputes in accordance with international law. The court consists of 15 judges elected for nine-year terms. The next election for a seat on the Court will take place in 2026.
If elected, Dr Elias will be following in the footsteps of three Nigerian greats who have sat on the ICJ, including his father Taslim Elias.
Taslim Olawale Elias was a Nigerian jurist who served as minister of Justice and attorney-general of Nigeria from 1960 to 1966, Chief Justice of Nigeria from 1972 to 1975 and president of the International Court of Justice from 1982 to 1985.
Other Nigerians who have served at the ICJ includes Charles Onyeama and Bola Ajibola.
Amb. Samson Itegboje, Charge d’Affaires of the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to the UN, formally presented the Nigerian candidate to the UN diplomatic corps at Nigeria House in New York.
Itegboje emphasized Elias’s qualifications and long service at the UN, saying of the nominee, “He is not just a renowned international lawyer but also born into a jurist family.“
Itegboje pointed to a track record of Nigeria’s commitment to international law, observing that the country has always respected the ICJ’s decisions including its compliance with the unfavourable ICJ ruling in its dispute with Cameroon over Bakassi.
“Since 1960, Nigeria has made significant contributions to the development of international law,” Itegboje said.
The Nominee, Olufemi Elias
In his remarks, Elias stated, “I have focused on public international law for 35 years in various capacities. Nigeria respects its international obligations and takes ICJ judgments seriously.“
Mohamed Mahmud, Minister Counselor and the United Nations Elections Officer for Nigeria’s Permanent Mission, noted the respect Nigeria enjoys within the global diplomatic circle. He described Elias as “the most accomplished Nigerian international lawyer alive today“.
Dr. Elias, a judge ad hoc at ICJ and an Institut de Droit International member, has extensive experience in various international organizations. He has served as a UN Assistant Secretary-General and the Legal Adviser at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons at The Hague.
Elias has also held other prominent positions, including President of the Administrative Tribunal of the OPEC Fund for International Development, Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank Administrative Tribunal, and former President of the OPEC Appeals Committee.
He was elected to the Institut de Droit International in 2015. He received the honorary life membership award of the American Society of International Law in 2018.
But this is not the first time Elias will be contesting for the position of judge of the ICJ. In 2021, when a vacancy came up, he was also nominated by the government of former President Muhammadu Buhari. He did not succeed then.
At that time, he made a pitch about himself for the exalted position, as can be viewed below.
In 2021, elections will take place to fill vacancies on the bench of the International Court of Justice, in The Hague
— Chidi Odinkalu, CGoF (@ChidiOdinkalu) July 15, 2020
Nigeria will be presenting as its candidate to fill the #Africa slot, Dr. Olufemi Elias
Femi is an excellent candidate for this role. This is part of his story pic.twitter.com/YR1qA54I1A
Human rights lawyer Prof Chidi Odinkalu esteemed him highly when he said. “Femi is an excellent candidate for this role”.
Nigerians hope and pray he succeeds this time.
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